St. Louis Public Schools gains provisional accreditation, state appointed board still in power

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Intro:	St. Louis Public Schools gained provisional accreditation and made history as the first school to experience academic turnaround since Niangua Schools in 2002.
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Wrap: Last year the district met enough of the academic and performance standards required to gain provisional accreditation.

The board voted unanimously in its meeting in Jefferson City, but Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro says this decision functions more as an incentive than a congratulations.

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Description: "Noone, as was said early today, noone would ever suggest that provisional accreditation is the end goal. We all want and believe that the children of the St. Louis Public Schools deserve a district that is fully accredited."

The district will be under review in September of next year under a new review process established by the state board.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.

Intro:	The state education board voted unanimously to provisionally accredit the St. Louis Public School district for the first time since 2007.
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Wrap: The district met seven out of the 14 academic standards last year, one more than required for provisional accreditation.

Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro stressed the need for continued efforts at the hearing in Jefferson City.

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Description: "This is a moment for celebration. A brief, and realistic moment for celebration while we applaud the efforts of the entire St. Louis Public Schools community on significant progress. We urge everyone to keep working."

The district will be up for review again in September of next year under a new review process established by the state board.

From the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.

Intro:	The state education board voted unanimously to give the St. Louis Public School District provisional accreditation, but hasn't removed state control.
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Wrap: The district lost accreditation in 2007 and a state-appointed board took over.

Teacher's Union President Mary Armstrong says the elected board should work together with the state board to arrange a smooth transition.

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Description: "How are they going to get better if we don't transition from those who are appointed, and seem to be doing an extremely good job, to those who represent the public in St. Louis towards getting full control of the board back."

The district will be reevaluated under a new set of standards in September 2013. Armstrong says the district should work to reinstate the board in the next two to three years.

From the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.

Intro:	St. Louis Public School District is back, but it still has a long way to go to not be considered one of the worst school districts in the state.
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Wrap: The St. Louis Public School District met half the required academic standards set by the state education board.

That granted provisional accreditation to the district.

Carnahan High School student Daezon Cummings says his school's turnaround was because of the faculty.

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Description: "It was big, just because I had just been hearing about it for weeks and weeks now. Just constantly talking with them about it and just to hear how much that it mattered to them for that to happen it was just taking a monkey off our back pretty much."

Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro says the district has not arrived at its goal, but it has clearly started the journey.

From the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.